Valentine’s Day with a Baby

Cary and I have never been into Valentine’s Day. I think we have both always felt like it was a hallmark holiday. I love the idea of celebrating love and having a day completely dedicated to that but I’ve always thought why can’t we do nice things like this every day? Or how it’s a little more special when it’s out of the blue. Still it’s nice to celebrate this amazing love that we share and this unbelievable life that we have built together. This year was a little different than prior years.

Our first valentine’s day together was spent a world apart. Cary was in Afghanistan and I was here. We were getting ready to meet in South Africa in a few weeks so our love would be celebrated there. The following year we were moving in 2 feet of snow into our first place together so that was fun. I mean, as fun as moving in 2 feet of snow is…

Our second Valentine’s Day I don’t even remember so apparently it was either not celebrated or was uneventful. Our third Valentine’s Day together was once again spent moving but this time into our house that we bought together and conveniently again right in a huge snow storm. You get the trend here. Usually other things take priority because to us it’s a hallmark thing. But this year is different, we have our littlest Valentine.

I honestly didn’t think we were going to do anything. I took a picture of my flowerless counter because #marriedlife. But I had Teagan buy Cary a gift and I was going to grab some steaks from the grocery store and just cook dinner at home per usual but at about 2pm, Cary walked in the door with bags and two vases full of flowers. One big vase full of flowers for me and then one mini vase with those same flowers for Teagan. It was literally the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.

We ran a few errands together and then went to a late lunch/ early dinner where we had the entire restaurant to ourselves. Teagan sat in a highchair like a big girl and I can’t lie, my heart breaks a little bit every time I see her do things like that because I realize that each day she needs me a little bit less. Queue the tears. But of course watching her grow and seeing these moments is the highlight of my life.

It was a pretty relaxed day but Cary made me feel really special. Unexpectedly happy and I think that’s all a woman really wants. In moments where you have zero expectations and your husband just comes in and shows you his appreciation. That is love. And watching him put effort into thinking about Teagan when really she has zero clue what is happening makes my heart burst at the seams.

He can drive me up a wall, some days I want to poke his eyeballs out, and there are days he makes me want to scream or cry but I can genuinely say I married a really good man. All and all we had a great Valentine’s Day, even if it’s not our favorite “holiday”.